Ovarian Cancer

Is talc safe? By MEG H. PARTINGTON -- megp@herald-mail.com Science has put talcum powder under a microscope to determine if it can cause ovarian cancer. continued Approximately 40 percent of women involved in disease studies apply powder to their external vaginal - or perineal - region, according to an article in the March 2000 edition of American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Powders often are used to curb feminine odor and wetness.

Al-Anon/Alateen Hagerstown and Frederick, Md. area. This is an anonymous, confidential support group for anyone affected by a family members or friend's drinking. 301-663-6626. Leukemia and lymphoma support The John R. Marsh Cancer Center, in partnership with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Maryland Chapter, sponsors a support group for patients and families affected by blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, MDS or myeloma. 301-665-4650.

SEPT. 12, 1952-JAN. 12, 2009 SOUTH JORDAN, Utah - Judy Marie Parker Emery, 56, of South Jordan, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, of ovarian cancer. Born Sept. 12, 1952, in Martinsburg, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Woodrow and Esther Parker. She had been employed by Shepherd College. She is survived by her husband, Rick Emery, whom she married June 30, 1995; four daughters, Heather Sykes, Sarah Liebert, Melissa Nelson and Amanda Bemis, all of Utah; two sons, Austin Emery and Matt Emery, both of Utah; five sisters, Nancy Mong of Scrabble, W.Va.

Lucy M. (Pellegrini) Leino, 86, of Hancock, Md., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at her home. Born April 20, 1925, in Baltimore, Md., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Rose Garbo Pellegrini. She and her husband, Kal, lived in Dundalk, Md., for 35 years. Upon his retirement from Bethlehem Steel in 1983, they moved to Hancock in 1984. She was a loving, caring mother and devoted wife of many years. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Kaleva “Kal” Leino, whom she married in 1945; one brother, Frank, and two nieces; three nephews, Andrew Frederick Kaufmann and wife, Charlene, of Tennessee, Mark Eric Kaufmann of Garland, Maine, and David Jonathan Kaufmann of Bangor, Maine; and caregiver, Brenda Douglas of Hancock.

Community forum about MRSA Washington County Hospital, in partnership with Washington County Health Department, will host a free community forum about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The forum is at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at Robinwood Medical Center, Suite 142, silver entrance. The forum will provide community members with information and steps to take to reduce the risk of MRSA infection, to examine issues and questions about MRSA, and to share what the hospital and health department are doing to combat MRSA.

More than 600 people signed up this year to take part in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Washington County, a fundraising event that began Friday afternoon and was scheduled to extend into the morning hours Saturday. Cancer survivors, their families, caregivers and assorted well-wishers thronged to the relay, which was held at Hagerstown's Fairgrounds Park. Missy DeHaven, co-chairwoman of the event, said the relay had 623 registered participants from 56 teams this year.

When Virginia “Ginger” Shirley was diagnosed with ovarian cancer more than two years ago, she had been fighting other medical issues for more than a decade. This time, after surgery, she pulled out a pencil and paper and wrote letters to her husband and three children. Those letters remained in sealed envelopes in the possession of Ginger's sister Edie Cunningham of Greencastle, Pa., who delivered them in person the day before Ginger's funeral. David “Dave” Shirley was married to Ginger for 38 years and marveled at how she always thought of others before herself.

Mary Eno's short tousled locks of hair wafted in the breeze as she ran across the finish line. When she pushed unruly strands away from her face, she thought about how thankful she is to have them. “It's nice to have hair,” she said. “It's cold when you are bald. I don't know how bald guys do it.” Eno, 56, of Rockville, Md., spent a year without hair while she underwent chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. Now, she is a four-year survivor. Eno and her husband, Mark LeGrande, joined more than 125 other runners and walkers on Saturday at Hospice of Washington County's 5K Run/Walk at Martin L. “Marty” Snook Memorial Park.

Lucy M. (Pellegrini) Leino, 86, of Hancock, Md., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at her home. Born April 20, 1925, in Baltimore, Md., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Rose Garbo Pellegrini. She and her husband, Kal, lived in Dundalk, Md., for 35 years. Upon his retirement from Bethlehem Steel in 1983, they moved to Hancock in 1984. She was a loving, caring mother and devoted wife of many years. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Kaleva “Kal” Leino, whom she married in 1945; one brother, Frank, and two nieces; three nephews, Andrew Frederick Kaufmann and wife, Charlene, of Tennessee, Mark Eric Kaufmann of Garland, Maine, and David Jonathan Kaufmann of Bangor, Maine; and caregiver, Brenda Douglas of Hancock.

Shirley Ford was known as a powerful "prayer warrior. " Whether she was out shopping, in a fast-food restaurant, walking through Robinwood Medical Center or receiving a phone call in the middle of the night, she would pray. Shirley herself survived several types of cancer - lymphoma 21 years ago, when she was given about six weeks to live, ovarian cancer in 2003, cancer of the intestine and colon in 2005 and 2007, and basal cell skin cancers at different times. Brenda Eyler of Hagerstown, her middle daughter, and Patricia McKinley of Martinsburg, W.Va., her youngest daughter, marvel that in the end, it was respiratory failure and not cancer that claimed their mother's life.

SEPT. 12, 1952-JAN. 12, 2009 SOUTH JORDAN, Utah - Judy Marie Parker Emery, 56, of South Jordan, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, of ovarian cancer. Born Sept. 12, 1952, in Martinsburg, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Woodrow and Esther Parker. She had been employed by Shepherd College. She is survived by her husband, Rick Emery, whom she married June 30, 1995; four daughters, Heather Sykes, Sarah Liebert, Melissa Nelson and Amanda Bemis, all of Utah; two sons, Austin Emery and Matt Emery, both of Utah; five sisters, Nancy Mong of Scrabble, W.Va.

Alcoholics Anonymous Washington County area. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, go to www.hagerstownaa.org or call 301-733-1109. Press '0' to reach a live person or follow the prompts for meeting times and locations. Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups Hagerstown and Frederick, Md., area. This is an anonymous, confidential support group for anyone affected by a family member's or friend's drinking. There are no fees. Call 301-663-6626 for a listing of meetings in the area.